Nanotube-derived carbon foam for hydrogen sorption.

A new kind of carbon foam, which is based on the welding of single-walled carbon nanotubes, is built in a computer simulation. Its precisely defined architecture and all atomic positions allow one to perform detailed theoretical analysis of the properties. Such foam is as light as 19 of steel, while its stiffness is similar and nearly isotropic, and it represents a strong three-dimensional material with various possible applications. Furthermore, its nanoporous structure is accessible to molecular hydrogen and the potential surface analysis indicates that it should be an excellent hydrogen storage medium. Importantly, such foam is a feasible structure that can be produced based on the known tube/fullerene welding techniques.